Jim Playfair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James Playfair |
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Playfair with the Phoenix Coyotes during the 2013–14 season.
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| Born | May 22, 1964 Fort St. James, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Edmonton Oilers Chicago Blackhawks |
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| Coached for | Calgary Flames | ||
| NHL Draft | 20th overall, 1982 Edmonton Oilers |
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| Playing career | 1983–1992 | ||
| Coaching career | 1993–2022 | ||
James Playfair (born May 22, 1964) is a Canadian former ice hockey player and coach. He played as a defence player. The Edmonton Oilers picked him in the first round of the 1982 NHL entry draft. After an injury made him stop playing, Playfair became a coach. He coached teams like the Calgary Flames, Arizona Coyotes, and the Oilers.
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About James Playfair
James Playfair was born in Fort St. James, British Columbia, on May 22, 1964. He grew up with two brothers and one sister. His older brother, Larry Playfair, also played in the National Hockey League (NHL). James Playfair is married to Roxane, and they have three children. One of their children is the actor Dylan Playfair.
Playing Hockey
Playfair started his hockey journey with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders. Then he joined the Portland Winter Hawks in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was a promising player for the 1982 NHL draft. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau thought he would be picked in the second round.
In the 1981–82 WHL season, Playfair scored five goals and had 20 points. Even though his team, the Winter Hawks, made it to the 1982 Memorial Cup, Playfair did not play much. The Edmonton Oilers chose him in the first round, as the 20th player overall.
After being drafted, Playfair trained hard to get ready for the NHL. He signed a contract with the Oilers. He spent a month with the Oilers before going back to the Winter Hawks for the 1982–83 WHL season. He was an alternate captain and helped his team win seven games in a row. However, he hurt his knee in November and missed 19 games. He finished that season with eight goals and 27 assists.
Playfair played a total of 21 games in the NHL. He scored two goals and had four assists. He also played in other leagues like the American Hockey League (AHL) and the IHL. An injury eventually ended his playing career.
Coaching Hockey Teams
After his playing career, Playfair became a successful coach.
Early Coaching Roles
Playfair was the head coach of the Saint John Flames in the American Hockey League. He led them to win the Calder Cup championship in 2001. This was a big achievement for the team.
Coaching the Calgary Flames
On July 12, 2006, Playfair became the head coach of the Calgary Flames. He had been an assistant coach before this. In his only season as head coach, the Flames won 43 games. They made it to the playoffs but lost in the first round to the Detroit Red Wings. In June 2007, he became an associate coach for the Flames.
Return to the AHL
In June 2009, Playfair went back to coaching in the AHL. He became the head coach for the Abbotsford Heat, which was a team connected to the Calgary Flames. He coached the Heat for two seasons. In the 2009–10 AHL season, he led them to the North Division finals. During one game, he got very upset about a penalty call and broke two hockey sticks. He later explained his actions and was fined by the league.
Later Coaching Positions
Playfair joined the Arizona Coyotes as an associate coach in June 2011. He worked with them until June 2017. In June 2019, he became an associate coach for the Edmonton Oilers. He left the Oilers in February 2022. More recently, in 2023, Playfair was named an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2023 Spengler Cup.
See also
- Notable families in the NHL
